On the contrary, I just put those simplex suggestions in my radios since I prefer the quieter simplex frequencies over the "beep-boop" repeaters any day.
I'm by no means new, but I have become calloused to the 21st century repeaters since they seem to have every feature imaginable activated.

73,
n9zas

Ahh, yea, nothing better than a repeater with reverse burst, a 500ms tail, and no courtesy tones... Yea simplex is fun.

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__________________
Interoperatablity is not a technology it is an attitude!!!

In some regions they drink tea in the afternoon, in others they drink coffee in the morning and maybe afternoon. Doesn't change the simplex national calling frequency on UHF. Don't be silly. An no one hardly ever uses that ... so don't waste your time and your memories.

146.520 is quite active in Southeast Florida - I would imagine elsewhere in the US as well. Not much fun scanning that as the signals can be strong sometimes and other times not. If are scanning a lot of stuff between transmissions chances are you'll miss half of what's said. It's more of a stay parked there kind of thing. And listening is about as much fun as watching grass grow if you can't talk.

They probably weren't talking if they were experimenting with balloons. It was probably telemetry data. I doubt the hams were on balloons flying around talking simplex on 440.

It's like the balloon payments for your house ... they keep going UP!

Nope, two different hot air balloons taking air temp readings, altitude, rate of ascent and they may have been taking pics since they were talking about aperture settings at one point. Both ops were comparing their findings to each other. 73, n9zas

Folks - bottom line is that band plans are determined by a regional coordination council. See list below on the NFCC website for what state you are in. The ARRL band plans are simply suggested and the regional councils determine this. NFCC.US - NFCC Coordinators

Not to pick a fight, but band plans created by regional coordination bodies are likewise suggestions, as they have no official authority whatsoever, except in the case of repeater conflicts due to harmful interference. (97.205(c)). You should probably adhere to them unless you have a very good reason not to, but they do not carry any official force any more the the ARRL suggested band plan.

One humorous example of coordination bodies going "Barney Fife" is the Utah VHF Society basically commanding that nobody use tone squelch on a simplex frequency. Sorry, they don't have any business prescribing such things. It's none of their business. Coordination bodies only have very limited authority with respect to conflicts between repeaters due to harmful interference. Nothing else. Some of these coordination bodies are too big for their britches. Luckily I live in a state where this is not the case.

One humorous example of coordination bodies going "Barney Fife" is the Utah VHF Society basically commanding that nobody use tone squelch on a simplex frequency. Sorry, they don't have any business prescribing such things. It's none of their business.

Perhaps you should provide a link to their FAQ page that explains why it's a bad idea.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill4long

Coordination bodies only have very limited authority with respect to conflicts between repeaters due to harmful interference. Nothing else. Some of these coordination bodies are too big for their britches. Luckily I live in a state where this is not the case.

Actually, this is not entirely true. In many areas, the frequency coordinating groups have also been charged (by the local amateur community, thereby giving them the "authority") to produce local band plans that include simplex and weak signal assignments.

In many areas, the frequency coordinating groups have also been charged (by the local amateur community, thereby giving them the "authority") to produce local band plans that include simplex and weak signal assignments.

How would "the Amateur Community" go about doing that? Was there a vote taken? At any rate, they have no legal or official authority to dictate simplex frequencies. It's just that simple.

How would "the Amateur Community" go about doing that? Was there a vote taken? At any rate, they have no legal or official authority to dictate simplex frequencies. It's just that simple.

This is the correct answer. The "official authority" is FCC Part 97 rules. The only rule about coordination refers to repeaters. A repeater does not have to be coordinated, but if it interferes with a coordinated repeater the non-coordinated repeater must resolve the issue (IE: Move.)

Local frequency coordinators can suggest band plans but they cannot enforce them. As long as you're not causing interference to any ongoing transmissions (repeaters, packet stations, etc.) you can operate FM simplex anywhere from 144.100 to 148.00 on 2 meters, and anywhere between 420.00 and 450.00 on 70cm. Just as you can also operate CW on any amateur frequency, even in the FM simplex portion of the band.

Now, if you don't go by the local band plans you might make a few people mad but you're perfectly within the law of Part 97.

How would "the Amateur Community" go about doing that? Was there a vote taken?

I don't know about your area, but in my area, yes, absolutely. Votes are taken. I attend the local frequency coordination general meetings, and yes, I get to vote.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill4long

At any rate, they have no legal or official authority to dictate simplex frequencies. It's just that simple.

I guess that would depend on the specific function taken on by the area coordinator. In my area, there are three frequency coordinator groups, taking care of various bands. All three will allow votes by the amateur community on various issues. Some of the issues dealt with include allocations for simplex frequencies.

For example, the two meter band has allocated many of the simplex frequencies allocated as repeater inputs and outputs. Not following the local bandplan put forth by the local amateur frequency coordinator could result in a simplex QSO taking place on a repeater input, which would cause harmful interference. Yes, the FCC would (and has) step in, side with the coordinator, and cause that simplex operation to shut down.

Let me put forth a few more things for your amusement...

§97.3 Definitions.

(a) The definitions of terms used in part 97 are:

(22) Frequency coordinator. An entity, recognized in a local or regional area by amateur operators whose stations are eligible to be auxiliary or repeater stations, that recommends transmit/receive channels and associated operating and technical parameters for such stations in order to avoid or minimize potential interference.

§97.205 Repeater station.

(c) Where the transmissions of a repeater cause harmful interference to another repeater, the two station licensees are equally and fully responsible for resolving the interference unless the operation of one station is recommended by a frequency coordinator and the operation of the other station is not. In that case, the licensee of the non-coordinated repeater has primary responsibility to resolve the interference.

So, clearly the FCC recognizes the frequency coordination process, and has some teeth (albeit small ones) for enforcement. Those small teeth can be pretty sharp, though.

More:
§97.101 General Standards.

(a) In all respects not specifically covered by FCC Rules each amateur station must be operated in accordance with good engineering and good amateur practice.

This one is a catch all that is used to deal with the folks that refuse to recognize otherwise voluntary bandplans and cause interference to those who do.

Again, small but sharp teeth that occasionally actually get used. It's considered good engineering practice to know and follow the local bandplans, whether or not you're running a repeater. Just because it's technically legal doesn't make it good engineering practice, and doesn't make it "right".

Since the OP is located in the NY/NJ Metro area, a listing of simplex frequencies from all over the nation does him no good at all. The metrocore is the best, and only place that can address his question. All the rest is white noise.

And read my post above. You might well do more than just get people mad. There IS a mechanism to make the band plans enforceable.

You're assuming "good Amateur practice" entails following band plans from repeater coordinators who have no authority whatsoever to create enforceable band plans. You have no regulatory nor historical justification for assuming such.

Given the authority that Communications Acts of 1933 gives the FCC, the FCC can pretty much do whatever they want with regards to Amateur Radio, including revoking your license for arbitrary reasons. However, other than malicious interference or threats, or interference to other radio services, the FCC rarely gets involved with Amateur Radio.

Let's say some local repeater coordinator creates a band plan that says all IRLP simplex nodes should be on such and such frequencies, and someone chooses to ignore it, as long as there is no malicious interference, some Barney Fife can write all the letters he wants to the FCC complaining about it, the FCC isn't going to get involved. Period. Historically, they neither have the time nor the inclination to care about such things.

You're assuming "good Amateur practice" entails following band plans from repeater coordinators who have no authority whatsoever to create enforceable band plans. You have no regulatory nor historical justification for assuming such.

I just quoted several sections of the rules that provide for the regulatory justification. The historical aspect is out there... pay attention.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill4long

Let's say some local repeater coordinator creates a band plan that says all IRLP simplex nodes should be on such and such frequencies, and someone chooses to ignore it, as long as there is no malicious interference, some Barney Fife can write all the letters he wants to the FCC complaining about it, the FCC isn't going to get involved. Period. Historically, they neither have the time nor the inclination to care about such things.

The interference doesn't have to be malicious. It only has to exist, to be enforceable. It becomes malicious if the interfering station continues to interfere after being informed that his operations are a problem.

The point I'm trying to convey here is that there are a lot of new hams that come here seeking advice. The advice to ignore local bandplans and frequency coordination is bad advice. If you're going to fire up a transmitter somewhere, it's only sensible to make sure it fits in with what everyone else is doing. Coordinations and bandplans are how that's done.

I'm done quibbling with you about it. I'm glad you're out of range for just about everything I do. I don't have to listen to your simplex IRLP node on my repeater input. =)

Hello everyone! I have not been on the air for a while and getting back into it slowly. I am also a pilot and about to complete our third experimental plane which will have a 2m/70cm dual band radio installed.

When airborne and not in the "jurisdiction" of a local coordinating body, which simplex freq would you guys recommend moving to after making contact on 446.000?

The plan right now is to install a FT-400DR. I'm hoping with the scope it will be easier to find unused freqs for simplex.

What are your thoughts for best practices (frequencies) when operating on simplex from altitude?

I have not worked anyone on 446.000 other than prearraigned testing. On 146.520, I worked a guy on a mountain top while mobile on a Sunday morning. Seems like more hams listen to 146.520 than 446.000. UHF is shorter ranged watt per watt than VHF and could explain why you don't hear anyone.

It's also fun to try and hit far away repeaters when I'm aeromobile. Given how most repeaters use PL these days it's a feasible idea. The only real problem I've ever had aeromobile is the noise in the cockpit getting into the microphone, depending on what kind of aeromobile I was in. (Most have been quite noisy.) I eventually resorted to headset with a noise cancelling mic, the same that is used on the aviation radios. All in all, it's quite fun. And I'm not a pilot so I don't have to be concerned about flying the plane.

...The only real problem I've ever had aeromobile is the noise in the cockpit getting into the microphone, depending on what kind of aeromobile I was in. (Most have been quite noisy.) I eventually resorted to headset with a noise cancelling mic, the same that is used on the aviation radios...

I was lucky enough to own my own airplane, and had the radio built into the panel. If you do this often enough, I have a suggestion for you...

Get a portable intercom system from Sporty's Pilot Shop, like the Transcom II, and a headset. Sigtronics makes some good affordable ones.

The intercom has AUX inputs and outputs to the headset, and can connect to the radio. Adjust the mic gain on the radio way way down, so that you have to close talk the headset microphone. If you pad the audio down inside the Transcomm II box, you can leave the radio itself alone so it works normally outside the aircraft. You end up with pretty decent sounding audio. Yeah, the engine noise is still there, but it ends up way down in the back ground.